Some variations on atlatls

[swamp monkey]

I like to do replicas of atlatls found in the archeological literature.  Here are some images of atlatls I have made. 

Finger loops first

male style spurs

All kinds of styles

atlatls with holes in the grip

[swamp monkey]

Two atlatls with winged bannerstones.  The ones used on the atlatls are replicas.  however the one in the middle is a real artifact from Cape Girardeau county Missouri. 

Some more antler spur shots

Some of my favorites

a type two bannerstone on an atlatl

[swamp monkey]

antler handles

[bubby]

those are some sweet looking throwers, great work on'em, Bub

[swamp monkey]

I have used Osage orange, hickory, red oak, Am. elm, ash, persimmon, walnut, cherry, tupelo, black gum, willow, mulberry and hackberry to make atlatls.

[cracker]

what purpose do the stones serve?

[swamp monkey]

The simple stones seem to be tuning weights.   The winged stones generate some debate.  They are also thought by some to be tuning weights but they really are hefty.  The one thing I can verify is that they soften the swish noise a thrower in action  makes.  The sound is lower pitch and lower volume.  Is this a by product or grand design . . . I have no idea.  They look cool though!

[Pappy]

Beautiful work,very nice stuff.
   Pappy

[swamp monkey]

These items with exception of one are on display at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center. The tube shaped bannerstone is a real artifact from the Archaic period.  The winged bannerstone and is a replica of one that came from Cape Girardeau County.  The bannerstone on the basketmaker style atlatl is a soapstone replica. 

[swamp monkey]

The bluff dweller atlatl is one that is copied from a find at a series of bluffs in SW Missouri and NW Arkansas.  It has a peg handle. 

Of the two cane atlatls I like the male spur type better than the female. Both work though.

The pic with multiple atlatls is a group of them I made for friends and coworkers.  Simple and effective. 

Here is a closer look at the Aztec one hole atlatl with dogbane cordage handle. 

[swamp monkey]

This funky little atlatl was copied from a find in Santa Barbara California.  There is debate about if this really was an atlatl because it offers little in way of mechanical advantage.  I can simply say it does work as an atlatl.   I am not saying it would be my choice for hunting - just that it works.   

thanks for looking guys.